Electrical insulator for electrochemical cell

Abstract

An insulation portion for an electrochemical cell having a plurality of slots into which bent electrode tabs are slid through during an assembly process of an electrochemical cell. A latch is disposed adjacent the slots and is movable from a resting position to a biased position to engage the electrode tabs. Attachment of the insulation portion to the electrochemical cell and bending of the electrode tabs can be robotically performed, such that controllers of an attachment device and bending device are in communication with each other.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An insulator for engaging a plurality of electrode tabs of an electrochemical cell, the insulator comprising:
 a plurality of fingers, including a first finger and a second finger; 
 a slot that separates the first finger from the second finger, the slot including a closed end and an open end; 
 a peripheral edge extending in an arc shape; 
 a latch disposed adjacent the open end of the slot, wherein the latch is movable from a resting position to a biased position: and, 
 a living hinge extended from the peripheral edge to an inner peripheral portion of the insulator to allow the insulator to bend along the living hinge. 
 
     
     
       2. The insulator of  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral edge extends along an outermost one of the fingers to form a wall. 
     
     
       3. The insulator of  claim 1 , wherein when the latch is in the biased position a path of entry for at least one of the electrode tabs is increased, and the path of entry is decreased when the latch is in the resting position. 
     
     
       4. The insulator of  claim 1 , wherein a periphery of the latch has grooves that correspond to the fingers. 
     
     
       5. The insulator of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of slots are provided, and one of the slots is between an outermost one of the plurality of fingers and the peripheral edge. 
     
     
       6. The insulator of  claim 1 , wherein the fingers merge with each other at a base portion, the base portion extending from the peripheral edge to an innermost one of the fingers. 
     
     
       7. The insulator of  claim 1 , comprising a rib that is extended from the peripheral edge to an inner peripheral portion of the insulator for engagement with a device that installs the insulator. 
     
     
       8. The insulator of  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral edge comprises a wall, and a portion of the wall adjacent the latch is ramped. 
     
     
       9. The insulator of  claim 8 , wherein the wall comprises a first and second section, the first section extending from the ramp to the living hinge, and the second section extending from the rib to an end of the insulator distal the ramp. 
     
     
       10. The insulator of  claim 1 , wherein the insulator comprises at least one of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polyimide (PI). 
     
     
       11. An insulator for engaging a plurality of electrode tabs of an electrochemical cell, the insulator comprising two separate pieces that form a disk shape when mated, each of the pieces comprising the insulator of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       12. The insulator of  claim 11 , wherein when the latch is in the biased position a path of entry for at least one of tabs is increased, and the path of entry is decreased when the latch is in the resting position.